Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers a unique non-invasive approach for
assessing the metabolic status of the brain in vivo and is particularly suited to studying
traumatic brain injury (TBI). In particular, MRS provides a noninvasive means for quantifying
such neurochemicals as N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, phosphocreatine, choline,
lactate, myo-inositol, glutamine, glutamate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and inorganic
phosphate in humans following TBI and in animal models. Many of these chemicals have …